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While the BBC said they have covered many animal appeals in the past, campaigners believe Troya's segment is the first of its kind because it focuses on an animal which was stolen and killed.

We believe it is the first time a crime of this kind has ever been on Crimewatch

Chops Owen

Animal campaigners Chops Owen and Roz Hedley launched a Facebook appeal for information on Troya's disappearance and death, which now has nearly 13,000 supporters.

Chops, 38, said: "We believe it is the first time a crime of this kind has ever been on Crimewatch, so it is a massive achievement for pet theft.

"While the programme has covered other animal appeals before, they have focussed more on things like puppy farm cases.

Mercury Press

Troya, a two-year-old Presa Canario with owner Anthony Taylor

"We think this is the first time they have ever featured a segment on an animal which specifically had been stolen and killed.

"We need to find out who did this to Troya - we just want justice for her.

"So many people have been shocked by the brutal way she was killed, but someone knows what happened and we need someone to talk.

"This was a truly horrific crime which demonstrates the people involved are a danger to society."

BBC

Troya was stolen from her kennel in the garden of Mr Taylor's homeOwner Anthony Taylor, a plasterer from Romiley, bought Troya as a family pet and guard dog for £1,500 and had owned her since she was a puppy.

Online fundraisers pledged more than £4,000 to support an appeal for information into Troya's disappearance and death, £1,000 of which was used to fund a private autopsy.

This revealed the pooch had been hung or strangled to death but had no toxins or poisons in her body, which campaigners insist she is likely to have known the people who stole and killed her.

BBC

It is believed she was hung or stangled

In January, when Troya was first found dead, Anthony said: "She meant everything to me.

"What happened was pretty gut-wrenching and I don't know how anybody could do this."

After pulling in thousands of supporters on a Facebook page dedicated to finding out what happened to Troya, a social media campaign also lobbied Crimewatch's spin-off show Crimewatch Roadshow.

BBC

Owner Anthony Taylor said everyone loved Troya

On Friday, the show launched its own appeal, which aired at 9.15am and featured a re-enactment of the moment Troya is believed to have been stolen and an interview with owner Anthony, 34.

Mr Taylor told Crimewatch: "Everybody loved Troya, everybody. She was part of the family."

GMP officer Joseph Torkington also appeared on the programme, and called the killing "horrific".

BBC

Troya was a rare breed Spanish presa canario

The RSPCA also launched an investigation into Troya's death when the dog's body was first discovered.

Animal welfare officer Steve Wickham said at the time: "This is a very sad case and it is likely that the dog suffered before she died.

"We ask that anyone who knows anything about the dog and how she died to contact us in complete confidence."

A Crimewatch Roadshow spokeswoman said: "In the eight years of Crimewatch Roadshow we have covered many animal-related appeals. All the cases we feature on the series are chosen on their merit in conjunction with the police."

Anyone with information should call Crimewatch on 08000 468 999, text 63399 with 'CW' and their message, tweet @BBCCrimewatch or call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.